Question

If a water sample collected from a municipal source (like the Las Vegas Valley Water District) tests positive for coliforms, what does this mean in terms of public health?

Answer 1

Coliforms are those bacteria which are present in the digestive tract of humans and animals and are present in their faecal wastes. They are frequently used as indicators of " water pollution " and testing them in water sample and their presence also indicates the presence of other pathogenic bacteria in the water sample. However, even though coliform bacteria itself does not cause any illness except a few pathogenic species of E. coli, but their presence indicates that other harmful disease - causing pathogens might be present in the water. Presence of coliforms indicate that public health is at stake and people might be at a danger of drinking contaminated water and having food - borne illnesses like diarrhoea etc.